[thunderbear]

I went to a different pharmacy than I did last month, and my citalopram and my clonazepa were feom different companies than they were last month. My cit is round and pink last month it was oval and orangey pink. My clonzepam is same shape and color but this mont it has Teva on it last month it had an M on it. Its all the same, right?

[splitimage]

The medicinal ingredients should be the same, although the non -medicinal ingredients may vary. I'm on generic everything and a couple of times my pharmacy changed suppliers and I never noticed a difference in the drugs.

spltimage

[-jimi-]

They "should" be the same but only by trying them you can tell if they are the same to you. I can take some generics and some generics don't work for me.

[Squaw]

Originally Posted by thunderbear

I went to a different pharmacy than I did last month, and my citalopram and my clonazepa were feom different companies than they were last month. My cit is round and pink last month it was oval and orangey pink. My clonzepam is same shape and color but this mont it has Teva on it last month it had an M on it. Its all the same, right?

I'm glad you asked this..I also take clonazepam but only TEVA brand..My rx has been filled with a different manufacturer, and I ended up with some serious side effects..I cannot take anything made by Qualitest, and was told the fillers are different in different drugs..I ended up going through a cardiac workup as well as a gallbladder scan, due to 1/2 of a pill that looked different, and I trusted anyway..I will never do that again. Good luck with your meds..always ask pharmacist if concerned about anything being different, just to be safe..

[sewerrats]

THERE just different colours that all. they all have to pass the same stringent tests. Your chemist has just gone for the best deal for him that all.

Originally Posted by sewerrats

THERE just different colours that all. they all have to pass the same stringent tests. Your chemist has just gone for the best deal for him that all.

There can be serious differences in how the different generics work for some people. The difference usually causes no problem, but some generics of some meds have caused such notorious problems that they have been pulled from the shelves. Wellbutrin xl was one of those. They don't have to go through exactly the same testing, which is exactly why the wellbutrin xl generic from one manufacturer was finally pulled. I was one of the unfortunate people who was given the generic brand that caused the problems. Not a good experience.

The VAST majority of generics are perfectly fine, but doctors are aware of certain generics that are prone to not work as consistently as the brand names, and it takes years to get those manufacturer's products pulled. That is why some pdocs will specify brand name required on certain prescriptions. Mine did on wellbutrin xl, and somewhere along the line the pharmacy didn't follow his directions and substituted the generic. I didn't call them on it and had no problems until one time they switched the generic manufacturer to save money. That switch ultimately destabilized me and ended up with an inpatient stay. Serious consequences just to save a few pennies.

The generic adderal xl is another generic that is prone to work inconsistently. My pdoc and I have had long discussions about this.

But again, the VAST majority of generics are fine, but it is important for us to note if our generic manufacturer changes and stay cognizant of any differences we note in how they affect us.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

There can be serious differences in how the different generics work for some people. The difference usually causes no problem, but some generics of some meds have caused such notorious problems that they have been pulled from the shelves. Wellbutrin xl was one of those. They don't have to go through exactly the same testing, which is exactly why the wellbutrin xl generic from one manufacturer was finally pulled. I was one of the unfortunate people who was given the generic brand that caused the problems. Not a good experience.

The VAST majority of generics are perfectly fine, but doctors are aware of certain generics that are prone to not work as consistently as the brand names, and it takes years to get those manufacturer's products pulled. That is why some pdocs will specify brand name required on certain prescriptions. Mine did on wellbutrin xl, and somewhere along the line the pharmacy didn't follow his directions and substituted the generic. I didn't call them on it and had no problems until one time they switched the generic manufacturer to save money. That switch ultimately destabilized me and ended up with an inpatient stay. Serious consequences just to save a few pennies.

The generic adderal xl is another generic that is prone to work inconsistently. My pdoc and I have had long discussions about this.

But again, the VAST majority of generics are fine, but it is important for us to note if our generic manufacturer changes and stay cognizant of any differences we note in how they affect us.

I cannot say anything about Wellbutrin, because the med is banned in England it never made it pass first base in our stringent lab tests , can cause seizure in heart patients, and everyone don't no they have a heart problem. So maybe our test are more stringent than America we never get a generic problem., but then again we don't use a vast array of meds

[-jimi-]

Well, my doc told me they are not the same and they do not go through any stringent control. He says for the more complex meds like antidepressants and anticonvulsants he recommends never to switch makers. Several people have gotten seizures when they have changed to generics if they take meds for epilepsy. That is proof enough for me.

You just have to see which if any generics you have an issue with. They gave me some crap generic of xanax and I ended up very sick. Another generic of it works as well as the original for me.

When my friend who took effexor had to switch because only generics became covered, she had a breakdown that ruined her relationship.

I'm not meaning to scare anyone but if someone feels the generic isn't the same, it really IS because it isn't the same. You have to do what is optimal for you.

[jpny]

After a drug is on the market a certain number of years...other companies (competition) are allowed to market a generic formula of the drug. Sometimes more than one company will create a generic.
There are always differences with all the generics. I had an issue with my meds, spoke to the pharmacist and he explained why it looked different. I then spoke to the PDoc...there were effects from the change.

[thunderbear]

I havent noticed any real difference in them. The Teva clonazepam seems milder than the one with an M on it. Although that could just be my tolerance mabye.

Originally Posted by thunderbear

I havent noticed any real difference in them. The Teva clonazepam seems milder than the one with an M on it. Although that could just be my tolerance mabye.

That's good. And normally, generics work perfectly fine for most people most of the time. Glad to hear it is going well.

[sewerrats]

In England on the NHS all are meds are generic if scripted , apart from the ones that have no generic. I asked a mental hospital P DOC for LEXAPRO and he said its only citalopram in a different box ????? I went and got it from my GP still GENERIC of course Escitalopram . But
the hospital could not even afford the generic, so was running on the old med citalopram. I must admit I get blue lorazapam not white. LOZ is ATIVAN generic and I have been on ATIVAN for years , but England is now all LOZ on the NHS but there is a blue generic that mimics the ATIVAN so I like to have that, my chemist gets it special for me, he is a gent

[-jimi-]

Are you saying blue dye has an effect on you?

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by jimi...

Are you saying blue dye has an effect on you?

why would you think that The blue lorazapam looks like a Ativan same shape same colour so I feel im taking ATIVAN original, not generic white round lorazapam .That's what I said in the last post I never mentioned blue dye has any effect only psychological . That is the main reason a lot of patient think there generics don't work like the real med., because they are a different colour to the normal med, for instance ZOLOFT is blue , its generic SERTRALINE is white , so some generic makers do theres in blue and sell the must with no complaints, if they made it red sales would drop even though its the same med. If you have been on blue Ativan for 20 years you like the generic to be the same. But if just starting it makes no difference if its white its new to you, after a year you prob wouldent want a blue one PS you still haven't said what country you live .?????

Here is an article about the reason some generics are differently effective:

What You Need to Know About Generic Drugs | The Dr. Oz Show

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

Here is an article about the reason some generics are differently effective:

What You Need to Know About Generic Drugs | The Dr. Oz Show

Who is DR, OZ is he scientist , I take 3 of his top meds not to take, in generic form

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by sewerrats

The blue lorazapam looks like a Ativan same shape same colour so I feel im taking ATIVAN original, not generic white round lorazapam .That's what I said in the last post I never mentioned blue dye has any effect only psychological . That is the main reason a lot of patient think there generics don't work like the real med., because they are a different colour to the normal med

So you think the only reason people react bad to generics is a nocebo effect.

I don't think that is true. People I have asked here often had issues with the same brand. Often those factories are in the third world. They might not be as good, simple as that. Meds have also been withdrawn because they have realized some of those companies are just not made for our standards but have a great deal of contamination from other drugs made.

I can take the original Xanax. I cannot take one generic that looks exactly like the original, it makes me sick. However I can take one that is flat and looks nothing like the original.

Hows that?

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by jimi...

So you think the only reason people react bad to generics is a nocebo effect.

I don't think that is true. People I have asked here often had issues with the same brand. Often those factories are in the third world. They might not be as good, simple as that. Meds have also been withdrawn because they have realized some of those companies are just not made for our standards but have a great deal of contamination from other drugs made.

I can take the original Xanax. I cannot take one generic that looks exactly like the original, it makes me sick. However I can take one that is flat and looks nothing like the original.

Hows that?

Still don't say where you live??????? I did have trouble when Prozac became fluoxetine how many years ago maybe 20 , I crashed big time . I asked the chemist if I could still have the named brand Prozac and he said NO . I asked why??? he said because its £13 for your script more than the new generic and the NHS wont pay us. £13 extra 20 years ago was fortune for 28 tabs, now days the price of Prozac is near the same has the generic fluoxetine, I don't understand your first question

Originally Posted by sewerrats

Who is DR, OZ is he scientist , I take 3 of his top meds not to take, in generic form

If you look at the link, you will see he didn't write the article. It is simply posted on his website from a site that keeps track of problems with all kinds of meds: over-the-counter, prescription brand names, generics, etc. But yes, Dr. Oz is an MD (heart surgeon I believe by specialty) who has a TV show here in the states.

The article explains how generics are made, how they can vary from the brand name, how they don't undergo the same testing as the brand names because they are allowed to rely on the testing originally done by the brand name manufacturer, etc. It also goes into the types of generic meds that are most "touchy" as far as how the slight changes in the generics can affect the effectiveness of the meds, particularly with extended released meds, etc. Quite interesting actually.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by sewerrats

Still don't say where you live??????? I did have trouble when Prozac became fluoxetine how many years ago maybe 20 , I crashed big time .

I think this happened because the generic wasn't close enough to he original. I don't think it happened because the pills had the wrong shape or color.

Originally Posted by sewerrats

That is the main reason a lot of patient think there generics don't work like the real med., because they are a different colour to the normal med

Actually that is not true. For instance, with the wellbutrin xl generic, it was pulled from the market from that particular manufacturer because they had not actually tested the 300mg pill. They had simply extrapolated data based on the testing of the 150mg pill.

Some people, like myself, found they had almost immediate serious problems with that generic 300mg. Within 3 days of starting that generic, I crashed. It suddenly hit me that this new generic looked different and was from a different manufacturer, and I remembered my pdoc had originally prescribed brand name only because he had other patients who had problems with the inconsistency with certain generic versions of wellbutrin xl.

I put two and two together and spoke to my pharmacist. Sure enough, they had switched manufacturers to save some money, and upon doing some quick research, I discovered the generic they gave me was the one that was causing many reported problems. A few months later, the FDA had that generic pulled from distribution.

My pdoc gave me brand name to get me back on track, but the repercussions to my mood/bipolar disorder lasted for several months. It was THAT severe a problem. It was not a psychological reaction to the change in shape or color; it was a very physical, psychiatric reaction to the generic not working the same as the brand name.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by jimi...

I think this happened because the generic wasn't close enough to he original. I don't think it happened because the pills had the wrong shape or color.

I was actually agreeing with you, that 20 years ago it happened , that's why the test are more stringent now , or we would be dropping like fly,s and nobody would ever take a generic. The colour and shape thing you just don't get it do you.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by 1914sierra

Actually that is not true. For instance, with the wellbutrin xl generic, it was pulled from the market from that particular manufacturer because they had not actually tested the 300mg pill. They had simply extrapolated data based on the testing of the 150mg pill.

Some people, like myself, found they had almost immediate serious problems with that generic 300mg. Within 3 days of starting that generic, I crashed. It suddenly hit me that this new generic looked different and was from a different manufacturer, and I remembered my pdoc had originally prescribed brand name only because he had other patients who had problems with the inconsistency with certain generic versions of wellbutrin xl.

I put two and two together and spoke to my pharmacist. Sure enough, they had switched manufacturers to save some money, and upon doing some quick research, I discovered the generic they gave me was the one that was causing many reported problems. A few months later, the FDA had that generic pulled from distribution.

My pdoc gave me brand name to get me back on track, but the repercussions to my mood/bipolar disorder lasted for several months. It was THAT severe a problem. It was not a psychological reaction to the change in shape or color; it was a very physical, psychiatric reaction to the generic not working the same as the brand name.

I SAID THE MAIN REASON ?????not the only reason

[-jimi-]

Stringent... hm.. friend of mine crashed totally just a few years ago when they changed her effexor to generic.

Another friend stopped having any effect from her stomach med. No effect. At all.

[unlived]

I'm in Australia and have only noticed slight differences with generics - so slight that I could have been imagining it. Generics need to measure up to tight standards here just the same as brand names and I know of a few big name brands that sell the proper drug and a generic of it too.